Microsoft pulls plug on HoloLens 2 AR headset
Microsoft has officially stopped making its HoloLens 2 headsets, as reported by UploadVR. The company has promised to keep rolling out updates for "critical security issues and software regressions" until the end of 2027. But here's the catch: there's no word yet on a possible successor to the HoloLens 2. This move marks a big change in Microsoft's strategy for augmented reality tech.
HoloLens: A journey from promise to discontinuation
Microsoft kicked off its HoloLens journey back in 2015, aiming to shake up the virtual world with augmented reality. Fast forward to 2019, and they rolled out the HoloLens 2 at $3,500. It came packed with cool upgrades like wider field of view and eye-tracking tech. But, let's be real, the last couple of years haven't been a walk in the park for the HoloLens project, thanks to some internal hiccups at Microsoft.
Internal struggles and future uncertainties
The HoloLens project hit some serious roadblocks when Alex Kipman, who was leading it, left Microsoft in 2022 amid misconduct allegations. Then came a restructuring of Microsoft's "hardware portfolio" in January 2023, which resulted in layoffs in its devices teams. Even with all these challenges and the swirling rumors about ditching plans for a HoloLens 3, Microsoft recently hinted at a "meaningful update" to the hardware when the time is right.
Microsoft collaborates with Anduril Industries for IVAS project
Microsoft has teamed up with Anduril Industries, a military tech company founded by Oculus VR creator Palmer Luckey. The goal? To make the IVAS mixed-reality headsets used by the US Army even better. These headsets, which use HoloLens tech and come with built-in thermal and night-vision imaging sensors, are part of a massive $21.9 billion project contract that lasts for 10 years.
